Posted on 03/15/2004 8:04:42 AM PST by albertabound
Mar. 14, 2004. 04:02 PM
Canadians call U.S. best pal - Yanks pick Brits: Poll
MONTREAL (CP) — The best-friend relationship that Canada and the United States once enjoyed might have become more of a one-way affair.
While 50 per cent of Canadians in a recent Leger Marketing poll said the United States was Canada's "best friend," only 20 per cent of American respondents in the same survey felt likewise about their northern neighbour.
Britain, which has forged even closer political ties with the United States in recent years, topped the best-friend list for 62 per cent of Americans.
Twenty-five per cent of Canadians chose Britain as their country's best buddy.
The poll also suggested that 68 per cent of Canadians thought the two countries were very different, while 29 per cent believed they were very much alike.
Among Americans, the numbers were reversed — 61 per cent said the countries were very much alike, compared with 31 per cent who said they were very different.
The poll of 1,501 Canadians and 1,035 Americans was conducted Feb. 17-22. The Canadian numbers are considered accurate within 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, while the margin of error for the U.S. sample is three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
One keen observer of Canadian-U.S. relations said he wasn't surprised at the findings of the two questions because Canada is not on the radar screen of the average American on a daily basis.
"The average American hears about Britain all the time," said Harold Waller, chair of McGill University's North American Studies Program.
"He hears about (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair, he's aware of the fact they fought the war together in Iraq, that they've been allies for years and years."
Waller said Canadians know a lot more about their southern neighbour than Americans do about them.
"Americans know almost nothing about Canada and Canadians," he said in an interview. "They simply assume that things are pretty much the same here.
"They don't see any Canadian TV. They don't see any programs about Canada. Canada only makes the news in the U.S. when something big happens like an election or disaster.
"Canadians on the other hand, because they know about the U.S., they're more sensitive to the differences between the two countries."
An American who follows the relationship admitted that "U.S. knowledge of Canadians is little bit limited."
But Christopher Sands, senior associate with the Canada Project for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Canadians may have been doing their patriotic duty in emphasizing the differences between the two countries.
"Scratch the surface, I think we're fundamentally quite similar but that's a very uncomfortable answer for a country that's sort of searching for definitions of itself," Sands said from Washington, D.C.
As for the friends angle, Sands said there is no surprise that Britain was way out in the lead among Americans.
"The American public has accepted that, post-Sept. 11, allies have to be looked at by what they do, not what they say.
"And suddenly, there's this sense that when we were in a crunch, when we needed people, Britain could be counted on."
Sands also had an interesting take on his compatriots' general knowledge of the world.
"If you did a Family Feud-style poll and you said `Other than the United States, name countries,' the average American could probably get to 12," he said. "Britain's definitely one of them. But if you ask them England against Scotland, you start puzzling them."
thanks Tony Blair.
Then there were the kids from an American school who went to play hockey, and they were loudly booed and heckled and spat upon.
And when we visit Canada now we're treated like the plague.
No wonder we're liking the Brits more and more.
Other than send some troops to Afghanistan (for which we thank Canada and mourn your losses, especially in the friendly fire mix-up incident), all Canada has done is support the French and oppose the US. And your border security is a very bad joke. Sorry, but much of Canada is not America's friend. Much of western Canada is, but your government and Quebec are no more our friends than ChIraq and the French.
Well, don't you just have all the answers. As long as the question is, "How stupid are Americans?"
Putz.
We're suggesting that Chretien has been a disaster for US/Canadian relations.
We always counted on you guys. Post Chretien, we see Canada with new eyes. Part of the problem is that, due to the magic of cable, we get Canadian news now, and see what Canada says about us behind our backs. So the problem isn't a lack of exposure to Canada as the article implies, it is an increase of exposure to Canada that has caused us to doubt her friendship.
Although, in fairness, Canada is what the US would be if the Democrats got complete control of all branches of government, and could use them to lock out the opposition.
But I appreciate what help yall do give, even if it seems half hearted to me.
No offense to you, You very well might support the WOT more fully.
Very true.
Canadians seem to enjoy believing that Americans are just too stupid to realize Canada exists. That's why we "forgot" to name them our closest friend.
In fact, Canada has made the news in the U. S. with regularity since 9/11, building toward the following impression: In matters of international importance, Canada prefers to side with France over the U. S. and Britain. The refusal of France to participate in Iraq left a greater impression than Canadians seem to realize. Especially considering the heated anti-U. S. rhetoric the Chretien government tossed in for good measure.
Canada would no doubt prefer that Americans remained ignorant about her. Because, in the past couple of years, the more we learn, the less we like.
Whoops! Freudian slip. That should be "The refusal of Canada to participate..." See how easy it is to confuse Canada and France anymore? ;-)
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